Improvement in pool-boards



H. w. COLLENDER. lmprovementkin Pool Boards.l

No.116,159, fiy'l Patentedme 20,1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HUGH W. COLLENDERl, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN POOL-BOARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,159, dated June 20, 1871.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH W. OOLLENDER, of New York city, county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pin-Pool Boards; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this application.

Previous to my invention it has been custom ary to make the board on which the game is marked, and in which the small balls are kept, with a series of cavities or receptacles for the accommodation of the small balls formed in the face ofthe board along its left-hand side, (in a vertical line,) and provided with sliding covers, and the holes for marking the game (with the usual pegs) have been so arranged and num bered as to run and count in horizontal lines. Pin-pool boards, as vthus heretofore made, are subject to several serious objections, all of which I propose to overcome by my invention. They are not only very expensive to make, on account of the great amount of hard labor necessary in their manufacture, but are inconvenient in use on account of the difficulty to the players of looking at the balls. The cavities in which the small balls are kept are purposely made so that when the sliding lid is drawn back the ball will roll out, and the player, in going to look at the number on his ball, has either to take both hands and open the slide and extract the ball, or run the risk of permitting the escape and fall of the ball, to his own and the annoyance of all the rest of the players.

My invention consists in making the ballholder with a hinged lid or cap, which is adapted not only to retain the ball when shut up in its box, but also to hold or support the ball in an exposed condition when the lid is opened, as will be hereinafter more fully explained; and' my invention further consists in the arrangement of the series of ball-holders in a horizontal line at the top of the board, and the numbers for counting in a vertical line at the left-hand edge of the board, whereby all the balls are placed at the same and a convenient level or height,

and the reading of the positions of the countin g-pegs rendered more convenient.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the construction and operation, in detail, of my improved pin-pool board, referring by letters to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation or front view, and Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section (increased scale) of my improved board.

In the several figures the same part will be founddesignatedbythesame letter ofreference.

A is the board proper, which I propose to make of pasteboard, leather, or other suitable material, and in which a series of holes, e, is punched, (clear through,) as shown, formarking the game with the usual ivory pegs or pins. This board I propose to surround with a suitable frame, b, and said frame and board may be more'or less ornamental, to suit the price at which the apparatus can be afforded. c c, 8vo., is a series of ball-holders, which is arranged in the board, as shown, in a horizontal line near its upper edge. These holders are for the balls ofthe players. They are numbered 1, 2, 3, &c.,

independent of the board A, and the lid or cover portion only of c applied thereto. In the board shown I have formed the ball-holder of a block, d, having a hemispherical cavity in it, and a metal hemispherical cover or cap, c, (see hole in the board A. To prevent the lids c from opening further thanto about the position shown at Fig. 2 I have arranged beneath the holders a stop-strip or piece, f; but in lieu thereof the stop may, of course, be formed in the hinge of the lid c or in any other desirable manner, the whole object and advantage to be opening out far enough to render the falling out of the ball possible, and permit the said lid to act as a cup-holder to retain the ball with/its surface (and number) exposed to View. The count or score belonging to each player is kept in a vertical row of holes running downward from the holder in which his ball is kept, and a set of conspicuous numbers at the left-hand ed ge of the board, together with horizontal lines l running from each of said numbers through the said holes, (and the other numbers shown,) enables the player to read his count at a glance.

I have found it very desirable to form the board A of a thin slab of some suitable materials, with the holes e punched through, so that, in the event of the breaking off 0f the end of a peg or pin, the broken piece may be readily exas illustrated, and may be made separate andY Fig. 2,) and simply fastened the block d in a gained being to prevent the concave lid c from 1. A balLhoIder, adapted to retain the ball when open, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The arrangement of the ball-holders or receptaeles in a horizontal line, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11th day of February, 1871.

HUGH W. COLLENDER. [L.s.]

Witnesses:

HENRY N. BROWN, W. M. ERNST. 

